In Beginners you and your dog will learn how to complete 14 different
agility obstacles, including:

Dogwalk

The Dogwalk requires the dog to walk up, over and down in the direction
designated by the judge. The dog should touch the safety contact zones both on
the ascent and the descent (mount and dismount). Faults are assessed for
missing the safety contact zones.

A-Frame

On the A-Frame, the dog is required to walk up, over and down
in the direction designated by the judge, touching the safety contact
zones both on the ascent and the descent. Some venues (AKC for
example) do not require the dog to touch the up contact, but requires
the dog to touch the down contact zone. Faults are assessed for
missing the safety contact zones.

Teeter

The Teeter is a dogwalk requires the dog to walk up, over and
down. The dog should touch the safety contact zones both on the
ascent and the descent. Faults are assessed for missing the safety
contact zones, and for leaving the plank before it completely settles
on the ground (typically called a fly-off).

Jumps

The performance of the Jumps (single, double, and triple) is
simple. The dog must go between the standards, and over the bars in
the direction designated by the judge. Knocking the bars will be
faulted.

Tire

The Tire is a hoop suspended in the air. The required
performance is for the dog to jump through the hoop in the direction
designated by the judge.

Tunnel

For the Tunnel, the dog's job is to get in and go through in
the direction designated by the judge.

Chute

With the Chute, the dog's job is to get in,
and go through in the direction designated by the judge, pushing
through the fabric chute.

Table

The dog must get up on the Table and assume a control position
while the judge counts five seconds. In the USDAA the control
position is always a down. In AKC, the control position might
be either a sit or a down. Faults are assessed for
the dog leaving the table before finishing the performance during the
judge's count.

Weave Poles

For the Weave Poles, the dog is required to enter the line of
poles from right to left in the direction designated by the judge, and
weave alternately down the line. All odd-numbered poles will be
performed on the dog's left, and all even-numbered poles will on the
dog's right. Faults are typically assessed for going past a pole on
the wrong side.

The dog remains on leash at all times. Toward the end of the nine week class,
you will be putting together 2-3 obstacles, to get a taste of how much fun
Sequencing I and
Sequencing II classes are going to be.

Requirements for Moving to the Next Level

Upon completing our Beginner Agility Class students must meet the
following requiprements in order to move up to our
Sequencing I Class.

All dogs must have a recall with distractions and be able to work off
leash. They must return to their handler and not visit or interfere with other
dogs. No aggressive behavior is permitted in any class.

Handlers should be able to send their dog to a table or curved tunnel from
a distance of 3 to 5 feet. The dog must return to the handler and not visit
other dogs. This should be done for each obstacle introduced in the class.

All dogs must have a stay and allow the handler to lead out to a position
half way to the obstacle. If they cannot do this, then they cannot do the first
exercise in Sequencing I. Instructors should
not have to hold dogs in Sequencing I or II.

Contacts should be 2-on–2-off or 4 on the floor for long backed dogs or
those prone to hip problems. Targets should be used and the dog must not leave
the contact until the handler releases them. When released, the dog should come
off the obstacle squarely and not leave the obstacle from the side.

Dogs should be able to perform all contacts at full height by the end of
the Beginner’s class. Jumps should be at 4, 8 or 12 inches.

The teeter performance should be independent. That is, the handler should
not have to have the dog on lead while doing the teeter. It is possible that an
incident may cause the dog to have to be retrained during the sequencing class,
but it is the handler’s responsibility to work outside class to do this. If the
teeter is not in good condition it should be repaired before use.

All dogs should be able to perform weaves at a good speed off leash without
the handler threading them through the weaves. They need to be able to find the
entrance working in front of the handler and continue to weave while working
with the handler. Weaves may be offset and gates may be used.